Thursday, May 27, 2010

This week I attended the ENY-ACRL regional conference of ASSOCIATION of COLLEGE& RESEARCH LIBRARIES held in Hamilton, New York at COLGATE UNIVERSITY. While on campus I visited CHAPEL HOUSE. There I discovered this poem written bya former Chapel House guest, Abbot Zenkei Shibayama Roshi of NANZENJI MONASTERYin Kyoto, JAPAN.

SILENTLY A FLOWER BLOOMS

In silence it falls away;Yet here now, at this moment, at this place,the whole of the flower, the whole of the world is blooming.This is the talk of the flower, the truth of the blossomThe glory of eternal life is shining here.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Stop and sniff a purple magical flower, then hop on a plane or car or bus

It's Spring Conference Season again and a season for renewing hope and trust ...

TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION...April 2010

TLA this year was in San Antonio. I enjoyed speaking briefly at a Library - Vendormeeting in the downtown conference center. The participapation at that meeting was much better this year than the prior one in Houston, so that was encouraging for all of us there!

An extra bonus, an unexpected surprise for me, was that April in San Antonio meansFIESTA, which is the local version of Mardis Gras. Wow, was that fun! In the oldMexican-American part of town, EL MERCADO, I discovered numerous excellent bandsperforming during a few of the evenings coinciding with my visit. The music was happeningin the streets, and the local folk crowded around with baby strollers, boots filled with beer, and genuine hospitality for each other. Much good dancing was also going-on to match the greatmusic. I enjoyed hearing lots of Spanish being spoken, and it did feel like I had taken avacation to a charming foreign paradise!

ENY - ACRL, Eastern New York Chapter of Assoc. of College & Research Libraries

This event will be happening May 24 at COLGATE UNIVERSITY in Hamilton, NY.I look forward to being there. If possible, it would be even better to arrive there theprior afternoon at 5 PM, as there will be a fascinating planetarium presentation .....followed by a dinner gathering at the SEVEN OAKS Golf Course Lodge near campus.I hope to have time to also visit Colgate's Chapel House, a retreat center which containsa fine intimate library of philosophical, religious, and literary titles which are surroundedby splendid fine arts paintings and sculptures.

ALA Annual -- June 2010 in Washington, DC

I hope to see many friends and colleagues at this event. BUSCA, Inc. will be on theshow floor, sharing some exhibit space generously offered by our dear pals from BASCHSUBSCRIPTIONS and from THE REFERENCE SHELF. The exhibit space numbers:4219 & 4221

Look for us presenting some ideas at the ALCTS Publisher-Vendor-Library RelationsInterest Group. The panel will take place Monday morning, June 28th(presumablyat the Conference Center).